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Harry's DVD Picks & Peeks - 4th week of August DVDs: HEROES, Errol Flynn, Nightmare Before Christmas, Salo, Cannibalism & more!!
Hey folks, Harry here with another DVD Picks & Peeks. Pretty damn fine group of titles this week – for the second week in a row! Let’s get into it, shall we? As usual you can click on the art or the titles and it’ll send you to Amazon where you can learn more on the title or you can purchase them there – where a portion of your purchase will go to continue sponsoring this column. Much thanks to those of you who do – and to those of you who don’t… I hope you find the columns and links useful all the same. Here ya go…
Tuesday, August 26th, 2008
HEROES: Season 2
An abbreviated season due to the writer’s strike and an obnoxious industry that abhors dealing fairly with any talent area… well, it cost us a few episodes and meant a rushed season, which to many was a blessing, as many hated this season. Having just watched the entire season 3 days ago on Blu-Ray for the first time. I really have to disagree. Sure – at a surface level it repeats many of the plot devices and themes from Season one – only – without it being as visually threatening or brutal. That said – I really am fond of Season 2. For one – I love Hiro’s Samurai Tale. Only – I do wish there had been 2 episodes dealing solely with the samurai tale – as I fear I’ll never see Wolverine in Japan, but getting to see Kensei fighting R-rated battles where an arm is cut off and grows back – and full on arterial sprays – and Hiro stopping time to behead 40… bliss. Alas – that’s not here. But I love the issues of dealing with meeting mythic heroes and them not being the hero you heard about as a boy. I also am quite fond of Peter Petrelli’s arc. Very different from the first season – and plays well to his naïve nature. Neutering Sylar, but showing how he’d continue his evil – was so much fun. By the time I got to the final episode of this half season – I was stunned at the developments. Let’s see how Season 3 goes – from the sneak peeks on the disc – and the spots during the Olympics – it looks really cool!
HEROES: SEASON 1 (Blu-Ray)
I love this season. Absolutely perfect. I had this season on HD-DVD, but here’s the chance for all of you folks that didn’t have this in 1080p perfection – well now you can. Both this and the above set have TONS of extras and it’s my favorite show on television (outside THE DAILY SHOW and THE COLBERT REPORT)
ENTOURAGE – the complete 4th season
This is a lot of folks’ fave show on Television, personally – I’ve never gotten caught up in it. Even when they parodied me. Seriously though – you guys should get your prostate stimulated by wanton women – you’ll cum like you won’t believe. How the writers of this show knew that about me, I’ll never know.
THE LITTLE MERMAID – ARIEL’S BEGINNING
The prequel to THE LITTLE MERMAID that we were all screaming for. Ahem. Another needless sequel/prequel to fill the coffers and empty our respect for the house of Mouse. The film isn’t dreadful. It’s actually quite entertaining – but it doesn’t hold a candle to the original. The songs are not there. The wit isn’t there – and the animation quality isn’t quite there. However, if you have a little lady in the house, she’ll probably never notice.
THE SHIELD – 6th Season
THE SHIELD has been a great show for quite some time now – and continues to prove that really solid talent disappears in the hands of Tim Story. Ahem. With this next season looking to be the end, this season certainly ramped it up a notch or two – let’s hope they can end it as well as they’ve prepared us for the end.
THREE STOOGES Collection 3: 1940-1942
In 1940 – they made 3 of my favorite Stooges shorts – YOU NAZTY SPY!, A PLUMBING WE WILL GO and BOOBS IN ARMS – and all are presented here. The second of those is generally considered by many to arguably be the 3 Stooges very best work on film. Of course, so much of the love for an individual Stooge short is dependent upon the theme of a particular short. Here on this set you’re moving towards the world heading into war – with America joining the fray – this and the next collection do reflect that mindset. This is an outstanding series – and I look forward to… collecting them all!
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS (Blu-Ray)
Probably my favorite film of my adult life. This is so fucking gorgeous in Blu-Ray that it is hard to communicate its perfection. I’ve watched it 3 times – just because I’m sick that way. In addition – you’re getting VINCENT in Blu-Ray and FRANKENWEENIE in Blu-Ray. And the FRANKENWEENIE has an introduction by Tim Burton talking about the Stop-motion 3D Feature version of Frankenweenie – including some of his production sketches for that upcoming feature. Yes, they’re sweet! There’s a new commentary by Henry Selick, Tim Burton and Danny Elfman – and in particular – my fave extra is a recitation of Tim Burton’s original poem, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS – which kickstarted this project – read by Christopher Lee and illustrated in a slightly animated Tim Burton style. It is hypnotic. This is absolutely the jewel of this wondrous release day!
TIM BURTON’S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: Collector’s Edition – Ultimate DVD Set & Digital Copy
Amazon is reporting that this item has been pulled by the manufacturer – but I’ve heard otherwise – the links above will take you to Amazon’s page – keep checking for availability – it has everything on the Blu-Ray version – but in Standard Def – and like the Blu-Ray you also get a disc that includes a Digital Copy for your various media devices.
SALO, OR THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM
Not a pleasant film experience. One of the sickest, most depraved and evil films to ever be called a masterpiece by most everyone that could stomach it. SALO is the Marquis De Sade by way of Fascist Wartime Italy. Probably the most obviously disturbing and disgusting work ever committed to Criterion’s exacting preservation process – and by that statement – I have to applaud the team that dedicated the time to do this sort of immaculate presentation and extras for this film. Fucked beyond all belief.
ERROL FLYNN WESTERNS COLLECTION ( MONTANA / ROCKY MOUNTAIN / SAN ANTONIO / VIRGINIA CITY )
It’s odd to see an Errol Flynn Western collection that doesn’t include DODGE CITY, THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON and SANTA FE TRAIL – easily his 3 best Westerns. That said – I’m quite fond of these 4. In VIRGINIA CITY you get to see Flynn show off with Randolph Scott and Humphrey Bogart, they’re all involved in either protecting or robbing a wagon train loaded with gold from getting to… Virginia City. SAN ANTONIO was shown to me often as a child, as it was my dad’s home town – and having a Flynn tale set there… helped to cement the legend of San Antone to me. Errol Flynn is my favorite movie star ever. He just embodies old fashioned adventure and cinema glamour. These films have him at his best, even if they themselves are not the best.
WARNER HOME VIDEO WESTERN CLASSICS COLLECTION ( ESCAPE FROM FORT BRAVO / MANY RIVERS TO CROSS / CIMARRON – 1960 version / THE LAW AND JAKE WADE / SADDLE THE WIND / THE STALKING MOON )
First you have two westerns by the great John Sturges (The Magnificent Seven) – in ESCAPE FROM FT. BRAVO and THE LAW AND JAKE WADE. The first stars William Holden as a man that has to track down the escaped Confederate Soldiers from Fort Bravo. Eleanor Powell co-stars as a femme fatale – you know – a double dealing dame. Then in THE LAW AND JAKE WADE you have the crazy handsome Robert Taylor as the titular character and one of my fave actors, Richard Widmark as a man set to hang, that Taylor’s sheriff character decides to break free. Another great film by Sturges. Then there’s the remake of CIMARRON by Anthony Mann – a brilliant western director in his own right. Now the original was a BEST PICTURE winner, but I prefer this one. Maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for Glenn Ford and I’m not a Richard Dix lover. This covers similar material to that ill-conceived Ron Howard / Tom Cruise Oklahoma land rush flick, that I’m not going to bother looking up, but that I think was called FAR & AWAY, but I might be wrong. This is much better than that. The only other in this set that I’ve seen is the Gregory Peck starrer, THE STALKING MOON. It’s about a man, Peck, who takes in a woman and her half-Apache son – who are treated pretty badly due to the sentiment of half-breeds at the time. But the good stuff is when Daddy comes hunting for his kid. Really underappreciated film – Ebert doesn’t like it, but he’s really off-base here. This is an excellent film.
THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD ( Blu-Ray )
Along with the original 1933 KING KONG – THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD is my favorite film of all time. Directed (mainly) by Michael Curtiz and starring an incredible cast – headlined by Errol Flynn at his absolute best. And co-starring Olivia De Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Alan Hale, Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette, Melville Cooper, Una O’Connor and Herbert Mundin. The film features arguably the best film score of all time – composed by the brilliant Erich Wolfgang Korngold – featuring the most lush and beautiful Technicolor that we’ll never see the likes of again. The film isn’t about reality or history… It’s a storybook film – a painterly vision of a dream of this tale. It’s adventure where you smile at death and laugh at certain doom. The dialogue is brilliant. And the swordfights – well, the fight between Basil Rathbone and Errol Flynn is as good as it will ever be done. The most astonishing thing is watching actors getting shot in the chest with real arrows at real speeds. This was accomplished by using the most amazing Howard Hill (he’s the guy that Flynn is in the shoot off with in the Archery Tournament). He really did shoot all those men – with a long bow fired arrow. If you notice, and you can with this exquisite 1080p, every time an arrow hits – it will hit in the center of a crest. Behind which was a plank of wood wrapped in leather. He simply never missed, ever. Word has it that Howard hill could hit a flipped silver dollar in mid air with an arrow. He was… that good. If you’ve never seen this film – all I can say is – get ready for greatness. It was the most expensive film ever made at the time it was made. And it was the most successful of its year. It is… PERFECT!
AFRO SAMURAI: Season One – Director’s Cut (Blu-Ray)
Always dreamt of a badass samurai with an afro? Well, look no further. Sam Jackson shared your dreams and had them animated. This has 15 minutes of extra gore and violence that was too much for broadcastability. Co-voice-starring Ron Perlman and scored by the great RZA… what else could you possibly want?
PALE RIDER (Blu Ray)
The last of the “supernatural?” Eastwood westerns. This is Eastwood as a “god-sent” Father/Gunfighter that comes in on a prayer and leaves having answered. This one is about greed and the pursuit of Gold. I love the communal Rock breaking – and that one guy’s fate with the gold chunk – still fucking chills me. Love this movie.
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN
A disappointing documentary that was a victim of it’s own pre-hype and title… It isn’t really about searching for Osama Bin Laden, as much as it’s about Spurlock clowning around purporting to search for Bin Laden. The sweet stuff regarding his wife and child to be… just feels vain – and not at all organically built into the documentary. However, if you like Morgan Spurlock’s work, it is fun.
BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF – Director’s Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)
One of my favorite cult films that has come out during the history of AICN. Christophe Gans knocked this one out of the park – with the help of the amazing Mark Dacascos and Samuel Le Bihan and pant pant – Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel. The improbable kung fu, period-set, fantasy-horror-mystery borrows from the history of badass cool stories and films. Equal parts HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, BEOWULF, LAST OF THE MOHICANS and GREEN HORNET – the film is gory, sexy, brutal and awesome all at once. And having watched this Director’s Cut tonight – I’m not entirely sure if I caught what was new – I’m not sure. But I still love what I saw – the second disc filled with extras is fantastic. My only question is to Universal/Focus… COME ON – WHERE’S THE BLU-RAY LOVE FOR THIS FILM?
THE LEGEND OF THE LONE RANGER
One of the most shameful jobs of DVD mastering that I have ever seen. There is a white artifact line across the top of the image throughout the film that bugs the fuck out of me. That said – I knew Clayton Moore as a child – so when this film came out in 1981, I was gung ho to see it. It doesn’t hold up to my childhood memories. But it is a noble attempt. I had no memory that Doc Brown played Butch Cavendish – and as I rewatched the film – I was discovering it all as though through new eyes. Shame about the fucking annoying artifact that there should be NO EXCUSE FOR!
VIRGIN TERRITORY
I once asked Elijah Wood – Why did you make that awful fucking FLIPPER remake? And he looked at me with those adorably big eyes of his and said, “I was a kid and it meant swimming with a dolphin for a summer!” and suddenly – I felt like an ass. That said, nobody need ever ask Hayden Christensen why he made this movie. It’s because he got to rub up against, make out, bathe and have sex with the hottest naked European Nuns EVER! HOLY FUCK this movie is a wonderful sex filled nunsploitation movie… with Tim Roth and Mischa Barton to boot. I thought this would be pure trash, but I came away very pleasantly surprised.
CHICAGO 10
Earlier today I was reading some article about some war protestor group that was calling itself RECREATE 68 – and all I can say is FUCK YOU! Who in their right mind wants to repeat anything from 1968. Much less the 68 Democratic Convention. But as I hear about Denver’s insane police control – All I can think is those that don’t know history are doomed to repeat it. This is a fantastic Documentary – that uses the court transcripts from the trial of the “protest movement leaders” that the city held responsible for the trouble that occurred in Chicago during that historic election. Look at that voice cast listed atop the DVD – this is very well done. Very cinematic – and intercuts actual footage from the events – along with the animated recreations of the utterly ridiculous trial. You owe it to yourself if you love history to check out this amazing doc.
PHANTASM 4: OBLIVION
Now here’s a sequel with a ton of balls! Seriously – Check it out!!!
DELICATESSEN (Special Edition)
One of the greatest Debut films from a filmmaking pair ever. I really wish that Jeunet and Caro had continued to pair up for all their films. Their two great films… This and CITY OF LOST CHILDREN are so exquisite, so unique – so breath-taking that it makes almost everything else you see plain by comparison. Here you have amongst the most whimsical and beautiful tales of Cannibal Survivor ever told. Starring the brilliant Dominique Pinon as an out of work clown – that gets a handy man job at the apartments from hell… it’s just classic. The bedsprings scene is comparable to the best from Keaton or Chaplin.
CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST
Ok – you know all that stuff I said about the Cannibal film before this one? Whimsical. Beautiful. Brilliant. Well this is an entirely different animal. It could still possibly be qualified as Brilliant – but at the low budget, how did they do that, oh my god – I didn’t just see that – variety. CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST isn’t so much a movie as it is an experience. And it is an experience that bonds all who have seen it into this strange depraved cult of folks that can proudly proclaim their love and affection for every sick second of CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. And I’m proud to count myself as a card carrying member of the Holocaust Society of Cannibals!
CANNIBAL TERROR
It’s got the offensive meter going full tilt, but it just isn’t CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. It still has decent gore and outrage going, but there’s no finesse – and once you’ve seen CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST – this just won’t cut it.
LUST, CAUTION (Blu-Ray)
This is an import BLU-RAY – but it is Region 1, so it will play on our Domestic Blu-Ray players. Directed by Ang Lee and seemingly feeling like a response to Verhoeven’s superior BLACK BOOK – but hey – I can never get enough of stories about hot beautiful women that fuck for their countries during the darkest of times! Starring the awesome Tony Leung and the stunning Wei Tang and Joan Chen – This really is a spectacular film that earns it’s need to be 1080p with gorgeous cinematography and hot sex. Fantastic adult cinema made by a great filmmaker!
A/K/A TOMMY CHONG
Here is the utterly ridiculous case against Tommy Chong – when the government arrested him for making beautiful art bongs which you could use to smoke the SHOULD BE LEGAL Marajuana – or any number of tobaccos. This documentary will spin your lid – as you try to understand exactly why the Government is spending time arresting Tommy Chong – instead of taking care of any number of other activities.
FAT ALBERT’S HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
You either get FAT ALBERT or you’re just not cool. FAT ALBERT is, by definition, the coolest thing around. Well, the coolest thing was the Brown Hornet, but FAT ALBERT was just amazing good fun. That said, he had a lot to do with why I didn’t start kicking my fat ass into shape as a kid – cuz he was such an awesomely cool fat kid. Just like me! Here you have his Halloween special which will be quite a bit of fun, while also teaching your young’uns a valuable morale lesson!
MIDNIGHT BLUE COLLECTION BOX SET
This 5 Disc set includes THE DEEP THROAT SPECIAL EDITION, THE PORN STARS OF THE 70s, CELEBRITES of the Seventies, PORN KING and FREAKS & GEEKS set. This was a Cable show that was hosted by the publisher of SCREW magazine in the seventies that featured everything from Porn Stars to Celebrities that openly talked about sex and basically awesome deviancy. These are hilarious and astonishing. I actually find the commercials for everything from Porn Stores to Escorts from 70s New York to be hilarious. Definitely a peek at a side of the world we just don’t see anymore.
CLOAK AND DAGGER / THE WIZARD
I love CLOAK AND DAGGER – and am too old to enjoy the retarded joy that THE WIZARD gives its fans. But I can’t argue that this isn’t a pretty amazing double feature DVD. Now they’re on the same Disc – and I haven’t seen this in advance, so I can’t vouch for quality. But hey – where else you gonna score your copy of THE WIZARD!
LINDA LOVELACE FOR PRESIDENT
This isn’t x-rated – but it is INSANE! You kinda need to see this just for Scatman Crothers’ SUPER BLACK character! I’m serious. This is seriously one of the most absurdly awesomely awful films I’ve ever seen. Meant to kickstart Linda Lovelace’s legitimate career – but frankly – it comes across like a lot of the early post-sex film Paris Hilton roles where the parts all seemed to be about making a reference to her sex tape. Here – she’s really into innuendo about deep throating and sexual freedom and promiscuity. But it’s an absolutely crazed flick.
NUDE FOR SATAN
I blame Nixon for this. Throughout the time that Nixon was President – there was this odd movement toward Satanism that was oddly prevalent within softcore and hardcore cinema. I don’t understand it. I don’t get it, but damn if it isn’t fascinating to watch hot Italian chicks getting off on the power of Satan. Go Nixon!
THE TAKASHI MIIKE OMNIBUS (8-Disc) (FULL METAL YAKUZA, SABU, SHINJUKU TRIAD SOCIETY, RAINY DOG, LEY LINES, YOUNG THUGS INNOCENT BLOOD, YOUNG THUGS NOSTALGIA, OSAKA TOUGH GUYS )
Ya know – this is a damn fine set – and the largest set of Miike films I’ve seen offered in the U.S. Definitely a must have for Miike disciples.
MR. CINEMA
This was apparently a Hong Kong tribute film of CINEMA PARADISO starring ANTHONY WONG!!! Now – I’ve never heard of this film – but damn if this doesn’t sound like it’s worth checking out! I’ve researched and found several solid reviews of the film – and it is about a Projectionist and movie theater that takes place over 40-50 years in Hong Kong! And damn that has to be worthwhile! This is my, wanna see of the week!
Well that’s it for this week folks! See you next month for the first column of September where we’ll be looking at Season 4 of THE OFFICE, TRANSFORMERS on Blu Ray, SUPERNATURAL’s 3rd Season, ROAD HOUSE, ERASER bluray, MOONTIDE, OUTBREAK (Blu Ray), HONEY WEST: The Complete Series, THE NEXT AVENGERS: HEROES OF TOMORROW, UNDER SIEGE 2, THE PROMOTION, SHELLEY DUVALL’S FAERIE TALE THEATRE: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION, ITTY BITTY TITTY COMMITTEE, THE GAUNTLET (Blu Ray), EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE (Blu Ray), FIST OF LEGEND, THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN (Blu Ray), IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN, BLACK MASK (Blu Ray), TIME AFTER TIME, THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (1936), BAVARIAN SEX COMEDY COLLECTION, THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK (1939) and much more!
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go sox!
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this list could use some good movies
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It's the kind of movie that makes you appreciate life even more after you watch it.
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Is a piece of crap
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the previous Grindhouse Releasing DVD? It may be one of my favorite films of all time, but I still refuse to buy a pointless double dip. It better be worthwhile.
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Was that "pant pant" for Monica Belluci or Vincent Cassell? I couldn't tell. The thought of The Red One having sex is bad enough, but rolling his hairy stapled stomach back and forth on a dude's sweaty back as he plunges his meatstick deep inside the manhole.....well.............
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I could finish my comment because I had to.....(ahem) clean up.....
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a child's smile, blind willie johnson and a smooth bowel movement make me appreciate life. salo made me feel like a happy, blind baby being crapped on. in a nutshell, salo is a piece of cinematic crap searching for a plastic zombie's approval.
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All this talk of bowel movements, plastic, old blind guys and babies....makes me want to go for another pop.
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we are talking dead blind guys, man, so that's that...
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Great movie, of course its a thinly disguised remake of Shane, but i'll let it slide since its so frikkin cool. 'Nothin' like a nice piece of hickory'
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that can effect someone as strongly in this way as Salo and is such an accomplished work of art. It's one of the only films ever created that can make you think and feel emotion on this level. No matter your PERSONAL opinion (which is the only reason anyone could hate this film) it is a landmark in cinema and a master work. Period.
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but i find many movies affect me much more intellectually and emotionally than this. McCabe and Mrs. Miller and Dead Man and Ikiru are a few...They may not be as shocking as Salo, but one may find oneself emotionally and/or intellectually involved in their main "protagonists" and their situations.
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Not a big fan of shock cinema....Unless someone wants to plug jumper cables up to Uwe Boll's genitals and film it.
I think there are more intelligent ways to get your point across than filming sex slaves eating shit. "But WAIT! They're emotionless and the composition is artistic!".......
NINJA PLEASE. -
That used to be on so much when I was a kid.And Brotherhood of the Wolf surprised the shit out of me when I first saw it. Crazy kung fu against some wild beast...and Monica. Oh Monica. The offer still stands Monica. The Pillow can be yours for the taking.
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is awesome. I stumbled upon it on TV when I was 12 - 13 and was spellbound. So powerful.
That inspired me to look up the Dollars trilogy later on in life. They should be compulsory in schools I tell you
Elsewhere, "It's got nudity, it's got satan" should be a compulsory mantra for far more spec scripts in Hollywood than it is at present : ) -
A messy, disappointing season but not without hope for season three (thanks to SOME of the new characters being interesting...and that well-received Comic-Con screening). Glad I revisited the DVD - so glad I just had to rant: http://noisetosignal.org/2008/08/holding-out-for-heroes
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and what was the moral to Fat Abert?
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Aug 25, 2008 8:13:35 AM CDT
Hiro's storyline looked like it was filmed in somebody's backyar
by karl childers
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Aug 25, 2008 8:30:31 AM CDT
And who exactly was buying those 400 dollar copies of Salo
by jackrabbitslim
If you truly think it was Pier Paolo Pasolini completists or 1970s Italo film fans - brother, please. At those inflated prices, I guaran-goddamn-tee ya a significant number of those folk were, on one level or other, fantasizing about being the nasty kiddierapers they secretly want to be. I had my convictions tested a few years ago when I stumbled across that pretty rare as-unedited-as-it-ever-was-on-video edition at the closing of a mom and pop store. Video Gallery had bought it out and was selling off the mom and pops rather impressive collection of oop titles for 5 bucks a pop - including that Salo tape. Coulda gone on ebay and made some filthy lucre like the enterprising republican I am but FUCK THAT SHIT - I'm not going to chance feeding some kiddiefucker-wannabe's depraved masturbatory fantasies. Oh yeah - for what its worth - Pasolini really was a genius director but that movie is some repugnant shit.
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Geesh! I'm glad I have duel monitors at work.
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Only seen it once a couple of years ago and it really did nothing for me. I went from being impressed with the opening to being bored to death by the end. I can't remember the last time I was bored with a movie (no, wait, I can. It was Broherhood of the Wolf). Strange, because I usually like that kind of movie. Well, everyone on this site seems to love it, so I'll take the risk and give it another shot. Adventures of Robin Hood is one of the most joyous films ever made. Really wonderful. And so is Delicatessen.
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.. to the Patric Knowles mentioned in the Robin Hood review?
Also, I saw Cannibal Holocaust a few months ago and liked it up until they killed that turtle. I love me some gore, but that disturbed me. I watched the whole thing. I think they killed a couple more beasties. Reminded me of those Faces of Death videos. But, to each their own. I'm not a vegetarian, but killing animals for entertainment purposes doesn't do it for me.
If they were fake, they sure fooled me. -
"Brotherhood of The Wolf" made me think of that new movie with Jim Caviezel, "Outlander". Does anyone know when it will be released?
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David Mamet's Redbelt comes out THIS week. David Mamet and mixed martial arts...? C'mon.
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Give me a god damn break, Harry. Your hyperbole has reached new levels of douchiness lately. Hell you're even starting to rub off on the usually level headed Moriarty (recent Clone Wars "review"). Aside from having probably the worst season finale in recent memory, Seaso n1 of Heroes suffered fro mthe usual network staple of cookie cutter charcaters, atrocious writing, a lack of respect for superheroe or comic genres, overacting, lack of acting, huge lapses in logic, and a unfathomable lack of on-screen action. And everything that was wrong about the show was magnified and repeated in Season 2, which despite your insinuation, was not affected negatively by the strike. Indeed it only helped by cutting a woefully conceived season mercifully short. Iraq war supporters take note.
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Funny seeing them on the same list. Maybe watch them in the same day even.
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Eleanor Powell was the greatest film dancer who ever lived, but she didn't do westerns.
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I love that Tim roth is in there, you need at least one good actor slumming in there to emphasize just how wooden Hayden and Mischa are. Should be a blast.
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Anyone claiming its a masterpiece is a fucking douche bag. Its very easy to get a strong emotional response from a viewer by grossing them out. You think someone like Eli Roth is a fucking genius as well? Fuck that. There is no subtlety here...just shock and awe. In your face film making tactics saying, "Look at me, look at me!!"
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It's obvious. An overweight cartoon character made Harry feel like it was okay to be obese, only to learn later in life that it wasn't okay and that it would eventually affect his health. The end.
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Has to be bullshit. The director clearly had every last inch of his vision committed to the theatrical version. What would the studio have made him cut out? It certainly wasn't cut for time or weirdness. I call bullshit.
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She is so hot!
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Were her claims that she was forced to perform in Deep Throat at gun point ever verified?
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So how naked she get in Brotherhood of the Wolf? Also what is her most revealing movie? Malena? I know, I have to bone up on the Monica Bellucci filmography. I swear I could see lap fur through that sheer dress she had on in Matrix 2
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It did give me strong emotional response, which was why did i waste my time watching that piece of crap. Masterpiece do me a favour.
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Errol Flynn bit the balls off sheep. He literally put the balls in his mouth and ripped them off while working on a farm in Australia. Read "My Wicked,Wicked Ways" to learn more.
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I have had it for awhile (it was available from Canada in a 3 disc set) and it does indeed have about three additional scenes and they do improve the already amazing film. I can't wait to own this on Blu Ray!
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MMMMMM..Mamet
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Singing a love song for Heroes season 1 AND 2 and just a few words about The Shield?
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With Lindsey Lohan as the female explorer?
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That wasn't a gun.
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outside of The Daily Show and Colbert. That says a lot.
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S-T-R-E-T-C-H-Y
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Aug 25, 2008 11:20:58 AM CDT
Hey Harry, is "Lone Ranger" widescreen or not?
by the reluctant austinite
That film is sort of an obscure guilty pleasure of mine. I love the Clayton Moore series and films; I used to get up early and watch them at 6 o'clock in the mornings before school when I was a kid. It made having to get up for school more fun. I had the 12 inch dolls too. I skipped the "Legend of the Lone Ranger" in its theatrical run because I heard all the terrible things about it, but it became a comfort film for me cable. I got chills when the Ranger finally turned to the camera in his mask and the theme music kicked in. It came out about the same time as "Clash of the Titans" and had a very similar marketing campaign with cool artwork and toys. However, I've seen widescreen clips of this film that are 2:35 to 1, its original aspect ratio, and now I'm hearing the Lion's Gate disc if full frame only (probably just a port of the VHS transfer, which they infamously done before). The widescreen format just might restore some of the visual glory of the cinematography, even if the rest of the film isn't great (like in Roman Polanski's "Pirates" for example). However, if Lion's Gate just dumped this in full screen, then they shouldn't have even bothered pressing the discs. Can you clear this up? Thanks!
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1080p yo, 1080p!
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I enjoyed watching it, but come on most of us can admit it had flaws. Season 2... not worth paying for IMO. I'm looking forward to the coming "Villains" chapter though.
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No one may ever be able to do it better, a true movie star.
On the converse, Ben Affleck (a lousey movie star) & his toupee will be at the Democratic convention. Great news for all us McCain supporters as everything he touches turns to shit. -
Perhaps the most boring, tedious, uninspired film of the past 20 years. How anyone can take pleasure from that turgid abomination is beyond me.
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The whole point of the movie is that cruelty is banal and mechanical. If you want cruelty to be fun, rent a SAW movie.
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...especially after calling THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES a "train wreck". Hiro's Samuarai Tale was played way, WAY too much for laughs. And I don't need "full on arterial sprays" to enjoy my samurai tales, just a sense of true adventure. On the positive side of HEROES 2, I didn't mind the Peter Petrelli story arc or the journey of Sylar. Hell, I even kind of dug Maya and her inadvertent tendencies to kill everyone around her. But who could stomach the love story between Claire and West? And what in the world happened to Ali Larter's Niki Sanders, the most interesting character from Season 1?
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and it was very tame in comparison to all the hoopla about it being "the most controversial film ever". Nonsense I say! Not in this internet age of shock videos. It was so weak I would've had to go back to the age of 10 for it to affect me in a negative way.
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Pure trash, and disgusting as well. No reedeming features to it, and a gross movie to watch. But for crazy, fucked up shit, Cannibal Holocaust is a good one to watch. Its fucked up but doesn't take itself as seriously as the shit known as Salo. And Brotherhood of the Wolf is a great movie.
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Because the violence is directed towards children. If the victims were adults, no one would care.
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Morgan Spurlock is a fucking hack. Getting stupid people to pay money to watch a film who's big reveal is "eating nothing but high fat high sodium low nutritional value food three times a day will fuck you up" was genius sur, but as a film maker they guy is a damn joke. Kinda shocked that you are just now catching on how vain he is too... guess you thought he was really chronicling his weight gain in Supersize Me, and not his own ass and his boring hippy bitch of a girlfriend for two hours.
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Please...
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do we really need to pick apart every single thing the guy says about these films every week? The guy likes Heroes and Salo more than you do. Get the fuck over it. People have opinions and different tastes. Deal with it. This column is used so we have a nice easy source to go to to read about whats new to dvd/ bluray this week and maybe even hear about a couple of unheard of gems that we may be interested in. Not so we can attack the guy who is spending hours of his time putting it together for us. You guys really are a bunch of fucking assholes.
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Nope C.K. those movies sure weren't fun for me. They are interactive though, in that they torture the audience...
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The cover. Criterion rock.
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Thank you. No matter what Harry says some arrested development case is going to jump on him. The internet really has cultivated a massive group of keyboard cowards who hide behind childish usernames allowing them to act in ways that they would never have the balls to do if it was a face to face situation. We actually had a decent Dracula talkback going on over in Quint's movie-a-day column last week. Everyone actually behaved like human fucking beings.
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nice, i congradulate thee
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was deeply disappointing. I enjoyed Super Size Me and his 30 Days tv show, but WitWiOBL wasn't on the same level as either of those. Spurloch is a likeable guy and when he was interacting with people from some of the more dangerous parts of the world the film was still kind of interesting, but when he pushed the whole searching for Bin Laden theme well past the breaking point then the film just kind of fell apart.
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Will this be the new animated image of Harry or was it a one time thing?
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I think Cartuna reflects the power and awe that is my physical form. Cartuna's Harry is sometimes grotesquely fat - sometimes incredibly fit, but fat. In truth - I don't know - I currently bench 230lbs and my arms are getting increasingly solid. with my man tits turning to pecs... so we'll see if Cartuna's vision of me becomes a reality.
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If I didn't have to sit though all the pseudo-Nitschean/Ayn Rand hogwash to get to the gory parts.
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Will you be getting a spit-curl and feathered back to match your bufness?
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with an Electra complex. Discuss.
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We'll work up a costume.
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that make me wish I had more money. Lots of good stuff coming out tomorrow.
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Bah!!! sorry, couldn't resist...
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On the 4th of July, my roomates and I had a block party here in Brooklyn in our front yard/driveway. In addition to hotdogs, beer, and music, we set up a projector and played some DVDs on a white walled building just to the left of our lot. Once things got going, I put on Cannibal Holocaust, and good god it was awesome. HORRIFIED people. I think it was even more strange given that there was no sound, and instead we were playing music - mostly danceable music - that drunk people were, in fact, dancing to. I lost track of the number of times that I was asked some variant of "What in the hell IS this?" Good times.
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my roommate and I did something similar on New Year's. Started out the night with "The Sinful Dwarf." It was amazing to see the reactions on the faces of drunk our friends.
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best release week of DVDs ever. This is just fucking incredible. I am gonna be a poor ass bitch after I'm done getting everything I want.
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And Jeunet's other works, City of Lost Children and Amelie, while they're at it.
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I was apparently drunk when I posted that.
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Love that movie - but it should be mentioned that the Director's Cut was already available on the Canadian 3-disk version. Compared to the US theatrical version, it's got the following additional scenes: (1) after Fronsac has created the "fake" beast, he gets drunk and confesses to Sylvia; (2) a long POV shot of Jean-Francois as he sneaks through the brothel and finds Fronsac's sketches of nakd Sylvia; (3) Fronsac comes to the De Morangias castle, but Marianne confronts him with his sketches and tells him she doesn't want to see him anmore; (4) Sylvia approaches Marianne inside a church and tells her Fronsac only loves one woman; (5) as Fronsac and Mani are loading their ship to Africa, the Marquis D'Apcher approaches them and gives Fronsac a letter from Marianne. All good scenes that add to the plot. I wonder whether the special features overlap with those on the 3-disk set or whether there's anything new? BTW, that shot of naked Monica Bellucci's body "morphing" into a hilly landscape is one of my favorite shots in a movie, ever.
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JUST SAW THIS NEWS...and it sucks bigtime!!!It looks like the Jim Caviezel-led sci-fi epic "Outlander" has been dumped and will now go direct-to-DVD.
The Weinstein Company held distribution rights to the Howard McCain-directed $47 million epic about an alien bounty hunter seeking a monstrous fugitive who's crash landed in Norway during Viking times. Caviezel stars in the film alongside Sophia Myles, Ron Perlman and John Hurt.
The studio has been undecided about the film's fate as no theatrical release date had yet been set. Now, Movies Unlimited have made the film available for pre-order with a November 18th street date.
No official announcement about the DVD has yet been released so it's not confirmed though. Why the decision was made is unsure as $47 million is a very large write-off for the Weinsteins, though Viking-themed films have never gone well financially - most recently "Pathfinder" which coincidentally starred Karl Urban who was to originally play the lead role in "Outlander". -
But I'd so much rather have a copy of Phantasm II on one of those shiny new DVD thingies everyone has been raving about. (Since Blu Ray is too much to hope for.)
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anyone know which stores will be selling salo tomorrow? i dont wnat to order it online i want it tomorrow
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why is there an extra scroll bar at bottom so that i have to go from left to right to read your reviews. in other words, why is this S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D?
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One of them is stretching the screen out so far it's impossible to read anything.
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Your response to Skimm re: Linda Lovelace had me laughing all day. I came here to see of somebody had said something to you but nothing, so here it is. Ready? Here we go: lol. Liked it?
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Hey DVD god, thanks for the DELICATESSEN special edition! After I had to wait forever for a chinsy nothing edition.
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Is the video quality very good or what? Eh what the hell I'm picking it up anyways, I loved the movie.
Pale Rider and Robin Hood on BluRay sound fucking great too.
But I can't stand Heroes. -
Brilliant design, awesome colors, and completely visionary...
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I can only assume since you wrote about some of this Cloaks and Daggers and this type of bullshit but didn't mention the superb REDBELT that means you haven't seen it yet. Tomorrow is the day to fix that error. REDBELT is a David Mamet thriller sort of story that takes place in the world of mixed martial arts. It's not exactly an action movie but is thoroughly capital-B Badass due mainly to Chewitel Ejiofor's great performance as a top jiu-jitsu master who lives strictly by a code of honor. It's funny because they tried to market it to fans of the whole competitive martial arts thing but it's pretty much an indictment of that world, saying that the competition and commercialism of it violates the original meaning. Which pretty much works as a perfect metaphor for most things in this world.
It's also a great story because you never really know where it's going, it kind of meanders around but then it finds its way to the emotionally and symbolically perfect moment and then BAM, credits. No time for petering out.
If you want it to be action-packed you might be disappointed, and people who hate excellence and greatness will definitely have problems with the movie, for example that dude from The Movie Blog absolutely despised it, which in my opinion is a very good endorsement. I think many people will love it judging by all of the people I know who saw it in the theater, who declared it a classic by unanimous decision.
I haven't checked out the dvd extras yet but there is a commentary that has David Mamet with Randy Couture, an ultimate fighting dude who has a small part in the movie. He will probaly give some insight into the MMA subject matter and may or may not mention that he is the villain in Scorpion King 2.
Seriously though bud, I think REDBELT may be second best movie of the year after DARK KNIGHT, and the best code of honor movie since GHOST DOG. -
Motherfucker yes! God I love that movie!
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You know the thing about Hayden Christensen, he's got lifeless eyes, like a doll's eyes. When he walks on screen he don't even seem to be livin'.
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I'm running Mac's SAFARI browser and I'm not seeing any image that even comes close to stretching the screen. I am not doubting you, I'm just not experiencing what you are. Which image is it? and could you send me a screengrab at hk@aintitcool.com ?
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I had the same problem as Nasty on this article yesterday but today it seems to be fine.
For once it was the actual article which was the problem whilst the talkback was fine. -
Some of you might want to hold off on the DVD of Salo. The BFI in the UK are bringing the movie out as their first Blu-Ray release. It's remastered from the Italian restoration negative and comes as a double disc with a new music video from Coil as part of the extras. Due out Sept 29th and might not have region coding.
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...is fucking awesome. Any word on whether the director's cut is going to make its way to the UK?
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yeah I read that about the BFI. Quite insane really - according to wiki the BFI archive contains more than 50,000 fiction films, over 100,000 non-fiction titles and around 625,000 television programmes.
Out of all of them? "Yeah guys lets get Salo onto Blu-Ray double quick".
FAIL -
I disagree, I think it's a smart move as the film isn't available on Blu-Ray from any other source and the notoriety will help them get some publicity. The BFI release absolutely awesome DVDs, everything from Pasolini to Jan Svankmeyer, Jacques Painleve and The Quays, plenty of great compilations of government, post office and railway information films. Other than reviews in the Guardian these excellent releases are largely ignored , they're the kind of things that can sound unappealing unless a sympathetic critic can spotlight the enjoyable aspects of them. If Salo gets a few more people clicking on their website then all the better.
PASS -
Aug 26, 2008 7:04:17 AM CDT
Harry, I think it's the Nightmare Before X-mas image(s)
by nasty in the pasty
Just break those up and STACK them one on top of the other and your reviews should be readable.
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about their motivations when you put it that way, as you're right about the notoriety generating interest for them as a group.
However theres an incredible library of 'better' films (I won't say more worthy) that aren't availiable on Blu-Ray either. The thinking behind the move undoubtedly was influenced by the whole 'ooh its infamous and will ruffle feathers' mentality and that is a shame.
Ahh well. As long as they follow up their blu-ray schedule after this debut with a consistent flow of excellent selections then no-one will bedgrudge them.
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Aug 26, 2008 7:38:52 AM CDT
The BFI did an amazing compilation of early cinema on DVD
by dogstardude
"Pioneers of Cinema" I think it's called, I have it somewhere in my disorganised pile of 2000 dvds. I hope they release it on blu-ray. That would be incredible.
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And that was a movie I could only watch half of. Once I realized there were two more hours to the thing, I felt the thing was pointless and I shut it off. I'd been overloaded by then.
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I watched the crap out of that movie when it was shown on TV. I learned never to trust the elderly from that movie. They'll end up chloroforming you!
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http://img142.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=66450_QTIB_vcpress_122_1039lo.jp g
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any info on this? it came out today!
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Aug 26, 2008 8:54:06 PM CDT
Is it too early in the season to start watching Nightmare
by pirateemery
Before Christmas? Because I'm watching it... on Blu-Ray... right now...
Fuck you, Harry. -
What is the name of the actress on SALO'S cover? She might deserve a GOOGLE IMAGES search. The Alternate Film site really rips SALON calling it CELLULOID VOMIT. Look up SALO on WIKI and the footnotes can link you to the "VOMIT" review. FINALLY, Harry this week's reviews page is still S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D out like MADONNA's WooHoo after a YANKEE batsman. Redo the Nightmare Before Christmas pictures. GUY RITCHIE you married a piece of...
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at that comment about Phantasm IV.
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Harry if you can EDIT your belly with an operation, why can we not edit these posts?
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Harry says "that said" a lot.
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Aug 27, 2008 7:05:34 AM CDT
Son of Rambow DVD is a Best Buy exclusive release...
by bob loblaw law blog
... and Harry always has links to stuff that can be bought on Amazon in this column.
I'm not sure why the decision was made to ONLY release "Son of Rambow" via Best Buy for the time being, but that's gotta be the reason Harry didn't review it here.
BTW, it's a brilliant film. I saw it at the post-BNAT screening at the Alamo Drafthouse South in Austin, and I loved it. Many thanks to Harry and AICN for sponsoring that free screening. -
On your love & lore of Robin Hood. Sit down and spill it out in a volume. I'll read it all.
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Is this any different than the Canadian 3-disc director's cut? If not, I'll just keep that one and be happy.
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Highly underrated. What Coscarelli and friends managed to pull off with virtually no money and scraps of leftover footage from 1978 is amazing. It even gets better with each viewing.
The UK Anchor Bay 5-disc Phantasm series set is awesome. I do love it so. -
This was at my local Cineplex all of one week and I kicked myself for missing it because both the lead and Mamet are amazing. I picked up the DVD yesterday and Vern is correct: Redbelt is one of the best films of this or any year. Not only does Mamet write and direct this film but he loaded it with numerous great supporting actors who deliver his lines like butter dripping off their tongues. Chewitel Ejiofor is the real star of the film however, and this gifted actor literally owns every scene he occupies. Seriously, this guy has become one of my favorite actors and he can put more emotion and nuance into a single glance or look from his eyes than most actors can manage in an entire film. The real triumph of this movie however, is that it may be one of the most accurate representations of true martial arts philosophy ever put to celluloid. It deconstructs and demolishes the narcissistic, egotistical paradigm that has imbued modern martial arts, specifically in the west and it does so with a measure of class and respect. Also, the action is sparse but effective and very well choreographed and those crying foul should be aware that this film was made in conjunction with several highly respected MMA and martial arts masters, including Dan Inosanto. (Bruce Lee’s close friend, confidant and successor.)
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A review with Flynn's movies and the Fat Albert Halloween special,and Legned of the Lone Ranger!Nice,that Halloween special is classic,been wanting that forever.Interesting note:the guy who played the Lone Ranger,Clinton Spilsbury dialogue was completely dubbed over by James Keach,a solid John Barry score on that one two,definately a guilty pleasure film.Wish they would do a flynn set with Uncertain Glory and some of his screwball comedies like Four's a Crowd.
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Reminds me of the There Will Be Blood teaser post, if the the IB poster is real!
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I'd also recommend Spartan to anybody who's into that sort of thing. That's Mamet badass on a larger scale. It's not as personally meaningful to me as Redbelt but just as a smart and tough thriller it's not to be missed.
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Haven't yet seen REDBELT but I will. On the topic of David Mamet, allow me to also recommend his film, HOMICIDE, an engrossing crime drama with a wonderful performance by Joe Mantegna. I also liked THE WINSLOW BOY - by no means a typical Mamet work, but proof that the man is capable of making different types of films.
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Ain't me brotha. From Cali to Nuevo Mexico my IP has roamed, but never to Britannia. My handle of "MCVamp" has existed longer than the internet...unfortunately, people eventually end up with the same names all over the fucking place. Anyway, not me.
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Just remove the l-o-n-g Nightmare Before X-Mas image below your review, for God's sake!
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Cuz it was never messed up on my screen, so I can't tell if it is any different for you folks.
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Just let that be a lesson...don't EVER have long, horizontal images in your DVD collums.
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Horrors fans shouldn't miss these gems. Home Sick is hilarious Alabama horror that would make Rob Zombie proud. The Bill Moseley third act is gold. A Xmas Tale and The Baby's Room from 6 Films ot Keep You Awake shouldn't be missed either. Paco Plaza, the director of [Rec], might have upped Silent Night, Bloody Night.
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and the cast is aces across the board. Tim Allen really needs a big time dramatic role to goose up his career, he is that good in this small role. And Ejiofor should be a major star after this.One minor quibble, does Mamet have to include a con in everything?? It is integral to the plot and character development, butreally? Another con job?
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gets very naked in irreversible. There is a very disturbing rape and a love scene at the end that serves to make what went on before very tragic. Good, but disturbing
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about to go to work. saw that harry's column is now in it's normal dimensions AND i get out of work early today. Truely it is going to be a great day!
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Going back to last week, how can you like the remake of The Wizard of Gore so much? It rambles all over the place and is almost incoherrent. The original is far superior. But I do agree that Cripin Glover is great in his role as Montag. But that's about it.
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Yep, I read his "My Wicked,Wicked Ways" and loved it. I always thought if they filmed it properly the early stuff of Flynn working with cannibals would be like Cannibal Holocaust itself. Brilliant book, along with David Niven's biogs.
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